Im after a decent set of allen keys for bike fettling.

Would prefer a set in a holder so they dont go astray.

Mrs Carbon will get me some as a stocking filler for xmas – what should I direct her towards?

I was looking on screwfix etc they are either cheap stuff or expensive.

Bondhus

Bondhus (although I have some cheap bondhus ones that are poor) and my personal favourite FACOM. I have had FACOM for 10 years of extensive use and still in top notch condition.

halfords are really good value and excellent quality

my previous set were Snap On, which i bought on the web and purely for the **** name, and was very disappointed with the quality. i replaced them after about a year. lesson learnt!

+1 for Facom. Also Wiha & Wera.

What about : Halfords Professional set

?

+1 for snap on Allen keys not being that hot, not as good as some of their other tools at least, my best set is a britool from prime tools, probably 8 years old and still going strong

Just sent her in these direction : Wera 9 pc

Will these sizes be bike usefull?

For bikes you will use 4 & 5 mm 95% of the time, lock on grip collars maybe need 3mm or 2.5mm

Carbon, that set looks great. Never come accross the brand before, but the description says all the right things and the sizes are right.

Ye olde pound shop, save your cash, unless you need to use them for work. Then I would go for Wera.

i hadn’t realised but my halfords professional set are made by WIHA, which someone else just mentioned

those wera ones are magnetic which would be quite handy

+1 for wera here get them from screwfix used them loads on motorbike and mountain bike project and come in a good case that holds them all together so they don’t get lost.

Thats what I want a decent set that I don’t loose the bits and will last a long time.

+1 for the Halfords set

I have a nice set of Pedros ones but i think they are manufactured by VAR

+1 for Pedros

Ball ended, 1.5mm – 10mm. Top quality.

Thats them Kona_ona

+1 for the Wera, got a set for work they are a good quality allen key

halfords pro here

Bondhus from here – http://www.silverstonefactors.com/

Did a search on ebay and the one seller at the time failed to deliver on a couple of orders. The guys above were very quick and well priced.

I believ Bondhus make tools for a few other brands inc park.

Halfords pro here too – and they work great. Supposedly they’ll replace them (for life, maybe?) if they break / wear. I was told that by a (decent) mechanic there, but there’s no documentation to suggest it’s the case, so I’d like to know if anyone else is aware?

I have Halfords Pro screwdrivers too though, and they’re utter pants.

Bondhus
Wera
Facom

All brilliant kit, so you can’t go wrong with any of them

I got some of the Park ones a while back. They arent cheap but are excellent.

I’ve had some Facoms for years, got them when I was motor mechaniching. Saw some the same recently & I think they were only about £15 ish.

Got a lovely set of Snap-Ons from fleabay (new) for about £25. Best set I’ve ever had.

Yup, Pedros here.
They’re really long for extra reach & leverage.
Seem good quality too.

Err…Allen

Everyone else just makes hex keys/hex wrenches.

Halfords lifetime warranty is ‘limited’ IIRC.

I’ve got a set of draper which i think i paid about a fiver for and had them for years. Although the pedro one look good because the extra length for leaverage.

Teng Tools.

Quality tools, lifetime warranty.

Satisfaction guaranteed
All tools bearing the name Teng Tools are designed and manufactured to meet or exceed ISO, DIN and other international standards. Teng Tools International is fully ISO certified and uses ISO 9001 assessed production facilities. Teng Tools products are designed to be used by professionals and are fully supported by the Teng Tools Everlasting Power Guarantee.

Everlasting Power Guarantee
The Teng Tools “Everlasting Power Guarantee” means that we undertake to exchange or repair this item should it ever fail or break under normal working conditions due to faulty workmanship or material.

http://www.teng.co.uk/key-wrench-sets_182_pl.asp

Lifeline – £8.99 – 2 years still like new!!!

Halfords pro are a good compromise on price / quality

+1 Facom

I’ve had those Halfords ones for years, pretty good for the money

Bondhus. end of.

Facom for me

I got given these 3 years ago and i do a lot of tinkering they are really good and i have never lost one as they stay in that little holder
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5786

Wera, Wiha, Bondhus, unbrako, holo-krome (Allen) all good!!

Kennedy, Draper, Teng tools all average

i use the park tool aws-10 for pretty much all my normal bike tinkering,
used them at the lbs on all the hire bike before they swapped over to qr seat clamps, and they were still good after 2 full seasons of daily use! (200 bike hire fleet) a tenner for them and are great out on the trail too,

good friend of ours dad said to him when he was a lad ‘Tools are made that length for a reason son’ thought it was funny when i was younger but with things like allen keys spanners etc. is quite true!!